diff --git a/CIME/XML/env_batch.py b/CIME/XML/env_batch.py
index 655f33ddee2..69a6560ae49 100644
--- a/CIME/XML/env_batch.py
+++ b/CIME/XML/env_batch.py
@@ -259,7 +259,13 @@ def make_batch_script(self, input_template, job, case, outfile=None):
             overrides=overrides,
         )
         env_workflow = case.get_env("workflow")
-        self._hidden_batch_script[job] = env_workflow.get_value("hidden", subgroup=job)
+
+        hidden = env_workflow.get_value("hidden", subgroup=job)
+        if hidden is None or hidden == "True" or hidden == "true":
+            self._hidden_batch_script[job] = True
+        else:
+            self._hidden_batch_script[job] = False
+
         output_name = (
             get_batch_script_for_job(
                 job,
diff --git a/CIME/data/config/xml_schemas/config_workflow.xsd b/CIME/data/config/xml_schemas/config_workflow.xsd
index 6a10b167347..5b09913a4b6 100644
--- a/CIME/data/config/xml_schemas/config_workflow.xsd
+++ b/CIME/data/config/xml_schemas/config_workflow.xsd
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
   <!-- simple elements -->
   <xs:element name="template" type="xs:anyURI"/>
-  <xs:element name="hidden" type="xs:string" default="True"/>
+  <xs:element name="hidden" type="xs:string"/>
   <xs:element name="task_count" type="xs:string"/>
   <xs:element name="tasks_per_node" type="xs:string"/>
   <xs:element name="walltime" type="xs:string"/>
diff --git a/CIME/tests/test_sys_create_newcase.py b/CIME/tests/test_sys_create_newcase.py
index b99ca4f10c4..1be636aff36 100644
--- a/CIME/tests/test_sys_create_newcase.py
+++ b/CIME/tests/test_sys_create_newcase.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def test_a_createnewcase(self):
         # on systems (like github workflow) that do not have batch, set this for the next test
         if batch_system == "none":
             self.run_cmd_assert_result(
-                './xmlchange --subgroup case.run BATCH_COMMAND_FLAGS="-q \$JOB_QUEUE"',
+                r'./xmlchange --subgroup case.run BATCH_COMMAND_FLAGS="-q \$JOB_QUEUE"',
                 from_dir=testdir,
             )
 
diff --git a/CIME/utils.py b/CIME/utils.py
index 1b7337d1669..85fa30017b0 100644
--- a/CIME/utils.py
+++ b/CIME/utils.py
@@ -2530,11 +2530,11 @@ def run_bld_cmd_ensure_logging(cmd, arg_logger, from_dir=None, timeout=None):
     expect(stat == 0, filter_unicode(errput))
 
 
-def get_batch_script_for_job(job, hidden="True"):
+def get_batch_script_for_job(job, hidden=None):
     # this if statement is for backward compatibility
-    if job == "case.st_archive" and not hidden:
-        hidden = "False"
-    return "." + job if not hidden or hidden == "True" else job
+    if hidden is None:
+        hidden = job != "case.st_archive"
+    return "." + job if hidden else job
 
 
 def string_in_list(_string, _list):